Shock-absorbing bumping post attachment



Nov. 18, 1958 B, E, HAYES 2,860,582

SHOCK-ABSORBING BUMPING POST ATTACHMENT Filed July 19, 1956 i 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E 4 "j [-5 l6 INVENTOR BRICE E. HAYES ATTORNEYS United States Patent SHOCK-ABSORBING BUMPING POST ATTACHMENT Brice E. Hayes, Park Ridge, Ill.

Application July 19, 1956, Serial No. 598,843

11 Claims. (Cl. 104-254) This invention relates to railroad bumping posts and more particularly to railroad bumping posts of the shockabsorbing type.

Rigid railroad bumping posts have been in use for many years and while they are generally elfective in performing their intended function, where a railroad car is traveling with some speed and engages a rigid bumping post, damage to the post often results. The purchase and installation of rigid bumping posts constitute a substantial monetary investment so that damage of the same may result in a considerable loss to the railroad operator. Moreover, in recent years a great deal ofdevelopment has taken place in the construction of the draft gear of railroad cars in order to build shock-absorbing qualities into each car. However, there is still in service hundreds of thousands of cars not equipped with such shock-absorbing means. When such a loaded car strikes a rigid bumping post, substantial shifting of the cargo may take place with resulting damage thereto.

It has been proposed to provide shock-absorbing attachments for rigid bumping posts, but such attachments have been diflicult to install requiring an expenditure of considerable money and labor. Furthermore, the previously proposed shock-absorbing attachments have not been adaptable to fit the majority of the bumping posts of the rigid type currently in use.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a shocleabsorbing bumping post attachment which is simple to install and which is adapted to fit ap-' proximately ninety percent of the rigid bumping posts now in use and all of the rigid bumping posts currently in commercial production.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a shock absorbing bumping post attachment which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and easy to assemble and disassemble.

Another disadvantage of the shock-absorbing bumping posts heretofore proposed is that upon impact the spring means provided is compressed to such an extent that metal-to-metal contact is made between the bumping post head and the supporting structure of the bumping post. This contact causes a shock wave to be transmitted directly to the points of installation of the bumping post resulting indamage to the bumping post and, in many instances, to the load carried by the railroad car.

Accordingly, it is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved shock-absorbing means for a bumping post of the type described which effectively prevents metal-to-metal contact of the bumping post head withrespect to its supporting structure as a result of horizontal movement when engaged by a railroad car.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel resilient means for cushioning the shockincident to the engagement of a railroad car with a bumping post which embodies the use of conventional railroad car springs and shock-absorbing pads.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent during the course of the following detailed description and appended claims.

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a conventional rigid bumping post having a shock-absorbing attachment embodying the principles of the present invention secured thereto;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the attachment partly broken away for purposes of clearer illustration;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the attachment;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a detailed perspective view of a'shockabsorbing pad.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 a conventional rigid bumping post, generally indicated at 10, which may be constructed in any well-known manner. The bumping post 10 includes the usual supporting structure 12 having a bumping head 14 rigidly secured at the upper central portion thereof. The present invention is more particularly directed to a novel attachment, generally indicated at 16, arranged to be fitted on a conventional rigid bumping post, such as illustrated in the drawings, so as to Figure 2, the resilient means comprises four large coil render the same capable of absorbing shocks incident to its engagement by a railroad car. As best shown in Figure 2, the attachment 16 comprises an inner substantially rectangular plate 18 which is arranged to be disposed in abutting relation to the railroad car contacting surface of the rigid bumping post 10. A pair of laterally spaced lugs 20 are rigidly secured to the upper and lower edges respectively of the plate and extend rearwardly thereof. Preferably, the upper pair of lugs is longer than the lower pair. Rigidly secured to each side edge of the plate 18 is a lug 22 which likewise extends rearwardly of the plate. The rearward end of each of the lugs 20 and 22 is provided with a threaded aperture 24 for receiving a securing bolt 26. the present attachment to a conventional rigid bumping post head the lugs 20 and 22 extend rearwardly of the contacting surface thereof and the bolts 26 are tightened to effect the final securement.

Mounted in parallel relation to the plate 118 is an outer substantially rectangular plate 28 having an outer surface which is adapted to be engaged by arailroad car. The upper and lower edge portions of the plate 28 have rigidly secured thereto horizontal arms 30, each of which extends rearwardly for sliding movement with respect to the plate 18 in a position between the respective pairs of lugs 20 thereof. The rearward end of each arm 30 is provided with a threaded aperture 32 for receiving a stop bolt 34 which serves to limit the forward movement of the plate 28 with respect to the plate 18.

The head of each bolt 34 is arranged to engage the rearward surface of a bar 36 rigidly secured across the respectivepair of lugs 20 thereof. The rearward end of each arm 30 is provided with a threaded. aperture 32 for receiving a stop bolt 34 which serves to limit the forward movement of the plate 28 with respect to the plate 18.

The head of each bolt 34 is arranged to engage the rearward surface of a bar 36 rigidly secured across the respective pairs of lugs 20. In order to resiliently urge the outer plate28 forwardly into its limiting position with respect to the plate 18 and to absorb the shocks incident to the engagement of a railroad car with the outer plate 28, resilient means, generally indicated at 38, is disposed between the plates 18 and 28. As best shown in springs 40 each of which has a small coil spring 42 nested therewi'thin. Each n'este'd pair of coil springs is" connected at one end to the outer plate 28 by means of a plurality of rigid elements 44 suitably securedto the plate and extending therefrom toward the opposite plate so as to define a coil spring receiving socket 46. The resilient means 38 also includes a shock-absorbing pad 48 (Figure 2)- disposed within each socket 46 between the plate 23 and the adjacent ends of the associated pair of coil springs. If desired, a thin metal disc 49 may be interposed between the pad 48 and spring ends.

As best shown in Figure 4, the rigid elements 44- may be strengthened by securing a peripheral flange 50 to the outer peripheral edges of plate 28. Moreover, the outer ends of the arms 30 may be secured to the flange 5b to strengthen the arms. The opposite end of each pair of nested springs is connected with the plate 18 by a similar series of rigid elements 52 fixed to the plate 18 and extending toward the opposite plate 28 so as to define sockets 53 for positioning and receiving the adjacent end of the nested springs. As best shown in Figure 5, the forward end portions of the lugs 22. may be rigidly secured to the elements 52 so as to provide additional strength therefor.

The attachment 16 of the present invention is fitted to a' rigid bumping post with the same assembled as shown in the drawings. The bolts 26 are first screwed out so that their threaded ends are flush with the inner surfaces of the lugs 20 and 22. The head is then lifted into place with the longer pair of lugs up. When the attachment has been initially engaged over the bumping post head, the same is first centered, then the bolts 34 are finally tightened around the post head so as to give a good tight bearing. With the attachment thus fitted on the rigid bumping post head, the same is noW in position for use.

In this regard, it will be noted that when a railroad car strikes the contacting surface of the outer plate 28 the coil springs will be compressed and the plate 28 moved rearwardly relative to the plate 28. The coil springs and relative spacing of the plates 18 and 28 are such that there will be no engagement between the two plates or any rigid elements carried thereby when the coil springs are fully compressed. By this provision the shock forces are transmitted to the bumping post through the coil springs when they have become fully compressed. The shock absorbing pads 48 disposed at one end of each pair of the nested springs thus serve to absorb the shock after the coil springs have been fully compressed. Preferably, the shock-absorbing pads are made of a substantially non-yieldable shock-absorbing material, although yieldable materials having a sufficient thickness may be utilized. While any suitable material may be utilized, one specific example which has been found to be highly desidable is a product sold under the trade-name Fabreeka. This material is made up of a multiplicity of layers consisting of fabric embedded in a rubber-like material. The material has excellent shock-absorbing characteristics and is substantially non-compressible and does not yield in the same manner as ordinary rubber and the like. The significance of the shock-absorbing pad is that metal-tometal contact between the outer and inner plates is effec- 'tively prevented. The maximum shock received by the outer plate is transmitted to the bumping post through these shock-absorbing pads so that the possibility of directly transmitting a shock force to the bumping post structure through metal-to-metal contact is eliminated. It has been found that it is this type of action, which is eliminated by the present arrangement, which has resulted in the failure of the shock-absorbing bumping posts heretofore known.

A significant advantage of the present attachment is the provision of the lugs for securing the same to a conventior'ial bumping post head which makes installation on approximately ninety per cent of the rigid bumping posts now in use possible. As a matter of fact, the only rigid bumping" posts which are not capable of having the present attachment fitted thereto are those of out-moded design and the present attachment will fit any of the rigid bumping posts presently in commercial production.

There are at least five different models of rigid posts currently in production and the substantial varying physical characteristics thereof are such as to impose serious limitations on the manner in which an attachment of the present type can be made adaptable to be fitted to all. It has been found that with the present arrangement, suitable clearance and securement bearing is achieved with all of the models as well as ninety per cent of the models already in use. In addition, the arm construction is such as to provide ample sliding clearance when fitted to any of the current models.

In the present arrangement, disclosed in the drawings, the plate 18 measures 12" by 18". The upper pair of lugs 2t) and the side lugs 22 extend approximately 3 /2" rearwardly of the rear surface thereof. The lower pair of lugs 20 extend rearwardly approximately 2". The bolts 26 are spaced inwardly from the rearward ends of the lugs approximately /2". The side bolts are spaced from the upper edge of the plate approximately 5 /2 while the upper and lower bolts are spaced 4" from the vertical centerline of the plate. The rearward ends of the arms in their forward limiting position are disposed forwardly of the rearward ends of the associated pair of lugs 20. While these dimensions have proven workable, it will be understood that considerable variation can be resorted to, if desired.

Another significant feature of the present attachment 1s the simplicity of construction which embodies but a relatively few number of parts which may be readily assem bled and disassembled. Basically, the attachment cornprises three general assemblies: first, the attaching plate 18 and the elements rigid therewith; second, the contacting plate 28 and the elements rigid therewith; and, third, the resilient means mounted between the two plate assemblies. As shown, each of the plate assemblies is built up of individual elements welded together. However, it will be understood that the assemblies may be cast in a single piece constructed in any other suitable manner. The plate assemblies of the attachment may be disassembled for replacement of parts or other reasons merely by removing the bolts 34 from the rearward ends of the arms so as to permit the latter to slide out of their position between the pairs of lugs 20. The resilient means is composed of conventional elements which are readily available on the commercial market and preferably the coil springs utilized are those which are conventionally utilized in railroad car trucks.

The attachment of the present invention has proven to be thoroughly reliable in operation. In one test three cars totaling 82.5 tons and traveling at approximately 5 miles per hour were moved against a bumping post containing the present attachment and while the post jumped and ballast loosened, both the post and the head were undamaged. The present attachment is thus capable of preventing damage to the post which insures that the substantial monetary investment in such posts will not be charged off as a loss. Of equal significance, the present attachment also serves to insure the protection of any load which may be carried by the railroad car engaging the bumping post.

It thus will be seen that the objects of this invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It will be realized, however, that the foregoing specific embodiment has been shown and described only for the purpose of illustrating the principles of this invention and is subject to extensive change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A shock-absorbing attachment for a rigid railroad bumping post comprising a first vertical plate for abutting the contacting surface of a bumping post, a plurality of rigid lugs extending rearwardly from the edges of said vertical plate, releasable means carried by said lugs for engaging the bumping post rearwardly of the contacting surface thereof so as to rigidly secure said vertical plate in abutting relation thereto, a second vertical plate disposed forwardly of said first plate, resilient means extending between said plates biasing said second plate forwardly with respect to said first plate, rigid arms extending rearwardly from said second plate to said first plate, each of said arms having one end rigidly secured to an edge portion of said second plate and an opposite end slidably mounted with respect to the corresponding edge of said first plate for horizontal reciprocation with respect there to, and removable means acting between the other end of each arm and said first plate for limiting the forward movement of said second plate with respect thereto.

2. An attachment as defined in claim 1 wherein said releasable means comprises bolts threadedly mounted in said lugs.

3. An attachment as defined in claim 1 wherein said resilient means comprises coil springs each having a shock-absorbing pad at one end thereof.

4. An attachment as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said coil springs has a smaller coil spring nested therewithin.

5. An attachment as defined in claim 1 wherein said removable means comprises a bolt extending through each of said arms.

6. A shock-absorbing attachment for a rigid railroad bumping post comprising a first rectangular plate for abutting the contacting surface of a bumping post, a pair of horizontally spaced lugs rigidly secured to the upper and lower edges respectively of said plate and extending rearwardly therefrom, an additional lug rigidly secured to each side edge of said plate and extending rearwardly therefrom, bolts threadedly engaged within all of said lugs for engagement with the bumping post rearwardly of its contacting surface so as to secure said plate in abutting relation thereto, a second rectangular plate parallel with said first plate, horizontal arms rigidly secured to the upper and lower edge portions respectively of said second plate and extending rearwardly between the corresponding pair of spaced lugs carried by said first plate, abutment means carried by the rearward ends of said arms, a transverse bar extending across each of said pairs of lugs in a position to be engaged by the for ward portion of said abutment means, and coil springs between said plates resiliently urging said second plate forwardly with respect to said first plate.

7. An attachment as defined in claim 6 wherein said abutment means comprises removable bolts threadedly engaged in the rearward ends of said arms and having heads arranged to engage said bars to limit the forward movement of said second plate with respect to the first.

8. An attachment as defined in claim 6 wherein one of said plates includes rigid elements extending outwardly therefrom toward the other of said plates and defining sockets for positioning and receiving one end of said springs.

9. An attachment as defined in claim 8 wherein each of said sockets has a shock-absorbing pad disposed therein in engagement with the end of the associated coil spring.

10. An attachment as defined in claim 9 wherein a smaller coil spring extends between the plates within each of the first-mentioned coil springs.

11. An attachment as defined in claim 6 wherein the pair of lugs secured to the upper edge portion of said first plate are longer than the other pair of lugs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,291,373 Bennett Ian. 14, 1919 1,354,662 Kirnack Oct. 5, 1920 1,387,561 Scott Aug. 16, 1921 1,947,524 Horldt Feb. 20, 1934 1,956,108 Symington et al Apr. 24, 1934 2,073,694 Hayes Mar. 16, 1937 2,094,569 Dwyer Sept. 28, 1937 

